The US amphibious assault ship, USS Wasp (LHD 1), which is capable of carrying aircraft, docked at Limassol Port in Southern Cyprus on Friday, according to Anadolu Agency.
Julie Davis Fisher, the US envoy to the Greek Cypriot administration, announced the visit on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We welcome the USS Wasp (LHD 1) and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit back to Limassol for scheduled replenishment and well-deserved downtime for the officers and crew.” Fisher added that the ship is positioned in the Eastern Mediterranean to deter aggression and promote regional stability.
The exact duration of the ship’s stay in Southern Cyprus was not disclosed.
The USS Wasp had previously docked at Limassol in late July, where it was tasked with readiness for potential evacuations of American citizens and other missions from Lebanon due to rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
The USS Wasp is equipped with MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and AV-8B Harrier fighter jets, adding significant operational capacity.
Since Israel’s conflict with Hamas began in Gaza last year, Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in cross-border hostilities. The war has led to more than 41,800 deaths, primarily women and children, in Gaza. In Lebanon, Israeli strikes have claimed the lives of at least 1,947 people, injured nearly 9,400, and displaced 1.2 million, according to Lebanese officials.
The international community continues to warn that escalating Israeli attacks in Lebanon could widen the Gaza conflict into a broader regional war.
